set a variable to the output from a command in Bash

lobsang · 03-25-2017, 05:22 AM

can any one explain me how it works.

mydate ="$(date)"

michaelk · 03-25-2017, 05:43 AM

Welcome to LinuxQuestions. Homework?

It is called command substitution. You can find lots of info online but here you go

https://bash.cyberciti.biz/guide/Command_substitution
https://www.gnu.org/software/bash/ma...stitution.html

ondoho · 03-25-2017, 04:53 PM

it won't work with that spacing.
please use code tags for code.

also, does your cat speak tibetan? ;-)

MadeInGermany · 03-26-2017, 02:21 PM

Code:

mydate="$(date)"

(No spaces around the equal sign!)
$() means it runs the date command in a subshell, and its standard output becomes a string that is assigned to the mydate variable.
The ""quotes protect the string from eventual word splitting or substitution - not needed in an assignment; you can omit them.